Get Out From Under

A good way to get out from under some of our daily problems is to stop reacting to everything that occurs.  Some of us have a constant drive to do something about everything that happens, everything that someone says to us.
(One Day At A Time In Al-Anon, 15 September)
14 December 2013

Secret Of Happiness

Photo: Jefferson Memorial by Cyndi Henthorn

The secret of happiness is this: let your interests be as wide as possible, and let your reactions to the things and persons that interest you be as far as possible friendly rather than hostile. (Bertrand Russell, 1872-1970, English Philosopher, Mathematician and Social Reformer, in Pocket Positives, no page numbering) 25 May 2013

This & That

I will not yield to my compulsion to go on talking after I have made my point ... (One Day At A Time In Al-Anon, 18 December)

It is not men's acts which disturb us - but our reaction to them. Take these away and anger goes. No wrong act of another can bring shame on you. (Marcus Aurelius in One Day At A Time In Al-Anon, 15 November)

Needless arguments are a colossal waste of time and energy. (Doreen Virtue, Ph.D., I'd Change My Life If I Had More Time, p. 164)

What appears to be trivial and insignificant may make a person feel that life is worth living. (Thomas Moore, Dark Nights Of The Soul, p. 31)

Let me not expect easy solutions to my problems. Make me realize that many of my difficulties were created by me, by my own reactions to the happenings in my daily life. I ask only to be guided to a better way. (One Day At A Time In Al-Anon, 6 January)

Issues

... we can be in emotional contact but don't have to react to someone else's issues. (Touchstones, 13 December) 8 March 2013

Judgment

Self-absorption is the enemy of serenity.  (In God's Care, 10 December)

Today demonstrate forbearance in your language, your actions, and your reactions.  A calm, well thought out response has a soothing effect on others.  (Helen Steiner Ricer, From The Heart, 5 December)

Judgment comes from experience and great judgment comes from bad experience.  (Senator Bob Packwood in Believing In Myself by Larsen and Hegarty, 11 December)

[A] ... compulsive drive for perfection - an unrealistic idealism - can be a neurotic symptom as difficult to deal with as the alcoholic's compulsion to drink.  (One Day At A Time In Al-Anon, 23 December)

******

Last night I watched some of the weekly Wednesday night streaming video of the Music City Roots show from the Barn at the Loveless Cafe in Nashville, TN.  There were some technical difficulties this week that seemed to grow worse as the program continued.  The performer that I wanted to see was, John Cowan.  He came on at beginning of the show.  I hadn't heard of any of the other acts.

Mr. Dickie

12 January 2012